Georgia

NBA Comparison: Kelenna Azubuike/Jeff Trepagnier

Strengths: Amongst the top physical specimens in the '11 draft class, with rare athleticism, length and strength at 6'4 ... Thrives in open space utilizing his end-to- end speed and explosive leaping ability ... Powerful, compact frame. More than capable of withstanding a blow and finishing when contacted ... Not a comfortable sight for defenders while charging at the hoop: he'll either dunk over you or take you with him through the rim ... Body control, in-air adjustments and hang time are sublime ... A high percentage of his points (14.4) come as a result of the transition game and crashing the offensive glass (3.2 off) ... His mid-range shooting stroke is much improved, especially when afforded a couple of habit dribbles to get his legs underneath the shot ... Realistic range out to 15-18 feet ... Shot selection is a mainstay, recognizing his strengths and playing within them ... Shoots an efficient 49% from the floor and 80% from the foul line ... Playmaking is not a staple, but he's capable of getting inside the lane with a lightning quick first step ... Assist figures are on the rise (0.6 to 2.5 to 2.9). Versatile defender. Able to guard multiple positions using his combination of strength and agility ... An attacking presence defensively, trusting his physical gifts ... Quick hands and plays passing lanes well (1.1 career stl) ... Blocked a shot per game as a sophomore.
Weaknesses: Doesn't fit the traditional shooting guard mold ... In a league infatuated with the three-point shot, Leslie has no extended range (0.4 3pt makes) ... Despite a spike in attempts (1.3), he'll never be a natural distance shooter ... Catch and shoot is not in his vocabulary ... Squares his body well, but needs time to eye the target ... When opponents lay off him on the perimeter you can feel the doubts creep into his mind ... Needs to be more free flowing and aggressive ... He starts thinking rather than reacting, usually leaving the burden to a teammate ... No defined offensive game at this stage in the half court set ... While ball handling has improved somewhat, it still inhibits his effectiveness in the face up game ... His off the dribble repertoire is elementary and lacks any real imagination ... For a two-guard, that's a difficult shortcoming to hide ... Less panache and attempts at the extraordinary, more attacking and getting to the FT line (4.1 attempts) ... His freakish athleticism will shine through regardless ... Seems satisfied to be a complimentary part.

Notes: Has signed with an agent so he has committed to remain in the 2011 draft.
Adam Ganeles 4/15/11

Strengths: An undersized 2-guard with elite level leaping ability and body control ... Specimen type athlete who has shown steady improvement in his offensive skills ... A very fast and explosive athlete, making him a tremendous open court player ... Routinely makes jaw dropping dunks ... Has a good shooting stroke and a developing pull up and turnaround jumper ... Big wingspan helps to make up for his lack of ideal height ... Excellent body strength allows him to finish at the rim and fight through contact ... Does a solid job of limiting turnovers ... A constant threat on back door cuts for ally oops ... Strong rebounder from the guard position, showing tenacity attacking the glass ... Solid defender. Quick reflexes and anticipation allows him to jump passing lanes and get out for break away dunks ... Plays with a high level of energy, showing a "high motor" ... Shooting, while raw, shows promise (75% ft) although his mid-range shooting numbers remain low (35%) ... An excellent shot blocker for a guard with great anticipation and timing for blocks (1.1 bpg) ... Equally effective jumping off one or two feet ... Still must learn to cut down on unnecessary attempting "wow" plays, but in general does a great job of staying under control and "playing within himself" for such a great athlete ...

Weaknesses: Still developing his perimeter skills. Lacks great range and consistency on his shot, but showing some real promise as a perimeter shooter ... One-on-one skills are a work in progress. Struggles to effectively create in isolation situations despite having an explosive first step and excellent athleticism. His ISO game has a lot of room for growth ... His ball handling is decent and showing improvement but still not at the level where he can comfortably handle the ball like it's second nature and create offense consistently ...

Notes: Has shown excellent improvement between his freshman and sophomore seasons doubling both his ppg and mpg outputs ... Has had the dunk of the (2009-10 season)(below) on DeMarcus Cousins of Kentucky ...